Bystanders to the Rescue

Incredible images of a motorcyclist being rescued from the burning wreck of a car crash. After colliding with a BMW in Logan, Utah, Brandon Wright, 21, was trapped under the car as his bike began to burn. But as flames engulfed the front of the vehicle he is captured being rescued by a crowd of bystanders who rush to lift the burning wreck and drag the unconscious man from underneath. Reports indicate he is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering several broken bones.


Update: Motorcyclist's uncle tells nephew's rescuers, "You are heroes"

The uncle of a Utah motorcyclist pulled from underneath a burning car by a group of bystanders told his nephew's rescuers Tuesday they are "heroes to our family." Tyler Riggs spoke to CNN's Piers Morgan one day after a group of construction workers, students and other bystanders turned into a ragtag team of first responders to save the life of 21-year-old Brandon Wright. The accident happened on a street near Utah State University in Logan and was captured on video. "I thank you on behalf of my family and I know that my nephew Brandon will hope to thank you at some point, too. I know that you might be shy and want to dislodge the title, but you are heroes to our family," Riggs said, adding that his nephew is in good spirits. Click Here For Full Article


"He was talking to us earlier and going through physical therapy and felt good after that. Things could have been much worse," said Riggs.

Sgt. Jason Olsen of the Logan police was the first officer on the scene.

He was about to motion to a fellow responding officer to grab a jack when, "I realized that these citizens had already organized and were just going to manually lift (the car) up."

The crash occurred when a BMW pulled out of a parking lot and in front of the motorcyclist. Jeff Curtis, assistant chief of Logan police, said the motorcyclist tried to avoid the car, which resulted in him laying the motorcycle down.

After crashing, gas spilled out of the motorcycle and ignited, engulfing both the motorcycle and the front end of the car in flames, Curtis said. The motorcyclist became lodged underneath the burning vehicle.

The video, shot by Chris Garff, shows several startled bystanders looking under the BMW as flames leap into the air.

The crowd quickly grows to include a man in a suit, construction workers wearing hard hats, a woman in sandals and a young man carrying a backpack, the video shows. After one person in the group tries to pick up the blazing car, the crowd joins in and lifts the 4,000-pound vehicle.

"I do remember one gentleman saying, 'We need everybody to come and help lift,' and that's when everybody ran over," Olsen recalled.

One of the bystanders drags the fallen motorcyclist's limp body from under the vehicle, the video shows.

Wright was rushed to a hospital and was in stable condition after surgery Monday evening, Curtis said. The driver of the car was not seriously injured.